Adjustable stilt step



Nov. 5, 19460 C55, WGG NS 2,410,582

ADJUSTABLE STILT STEP Filed June: 11, 1945 Inuznfor cmnesam i I J WWW v Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE STILT STEP Charles B. Higgins, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application June 11 1945, Serial No. 598,869

' 7 Claims. c1. 272 70.2)

This invention relates to stilts and is more particularly concerned with an adjustable stilt, and a novel construction of adjustable stilt step which may be readily adjusted and shifted to different positions on a vertical stilt stafi, to thereby locate it at any one of a number of preselected distances above the lower end of the staff.

It is a primary object and purpose of the present invention to provide an adjustable stilt step made rapidly and economically" from sheet metal, in which the adjustment to different positions is easily accomplished and which, at any position is securely, but releasably, held or locked against disengagement or disconnection.

An understanding of the invention may be had from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which, Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the stilt step and the cooperating portion of the staif, showing the two assembled and ready for use.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stilt step in the process of adjusting or changing it into a different position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the stilt step parts in separated relation, as first done preparatory to shifting or adjusting the step to another position on the staff, and

Fig. 4 is an elevation of a pair of the complete stilts.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the difierent figures of the drawing.

The staff I, two of which are used in any pair of stilts, is preferably an elongated bar of wood rectangular in cross section, and at its outer side and lower end portion, for any desired distance upwardly, provided with a plurality of spaced holes 2 bored therein for short distances. The spacing of the holes 2 may be at any distances desired and cover any selected portion in the length and at the outer side of the stafi.

The stilt step is made of two parts each of sheet metal. One, the lower part. has a web 3 inclined upwardly and outwardly from the staff, said web having a width substantially equal to the width of the staff with which the step is to be used. At its lower edge the web 3 may be turned back on itself, as indicated at 3a for a short distance. From the side edges of the web parallel vertical side flanges 4 are bent upwardly, said flanges at their outer ends having parts 5 bent inwardly toward each other and overlapping as shown. The overlapping sections 5 may be permanently secured together in any suitable manner, and through them the shank of a headed pin 6 is passed, the diameter of said shank being a.

little less than the diameter of, the holes 2. At its outer end the web 3 is bent to extend for a short distance upwardly in a section indicated at l which, at its upper portion, is rolled into a cylinder roll or coil 8, located over and spaced a short distance above the upper edges of the sides 4.

The other member of the stiltstep is also made from sheet metal in substantially channel form, having an upward horizontal web 9 and two depending fianges In, one at each side edge thereof of triangular shape. At its inner end the web 9-is continued and bent downwardly and inwardly in a curved form, as indicated at H, which is adapted to pass between the sides 4 of the first described step member. The length of the web 9 is such that when its outer end is inserted underneath the roll at B with the flanges l0 passing alongside and outside of the sides 4, the curved section I I will reach the inner side oi the stilt staff 7 I, and will be moved downwardly until said web 9 reaches a horizontal position bearing against the upper edges of the sides 4. In such position the parts will be assembled, and with the pin 6 entered into one of the openings 2 of the stall, the stilt step is securely held against disconnection or disengagement, particularly as the user ofthe stilt will have one foot resting and pressing downwardly upon the upper side of web 9.

When the step is to be adjusted to a different position, the second member, consisting of the web 9 and flanges H], is pulled upwardly and disengaged, as shown in Fig. 3. The first described member of the 'step .may then be tilted, as in Fig. 2, and moved to disengage the pin 6 from the hole 2 in which it has been inserted, and such part of the step structure then moved lengthwise of the staff until the pin 6 is brought to a selected hole 2 in which it is to be inserted, being then turned to a horizontal position, as in Fig. 3; and the second member of the step have its outer end inserted underneath the roll 8 and forced to horizontal position, providing a relation and location of the parts as in Fig. 1.

The construction described is of a simple, eccnomical nature of great strength and durability, is easily adjusted to selected position and is of a very practial, sturdy construction. The roll 8 at the outer end of the stilt step, in addition to serving as a retainer for the outer end of the web 9, provides a guard against the foot slipping off the step. This stilt structure has been built and very thoroughly tested and has proven its merit. The invention is defined in the appended claims and is 3 to be considered comprehensive of all forms of structure coming within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a stilt, a vertical stilt stafi, a step adjustably mounted on said staff and extending horizontally therefrom, said step including a lower member embracing the stafi, said lower member having spaced apart sides and an upwardly extending inwardly turned portion at its outer end, and a second member comprising a horizontal web and depending spaced sides, the outer end of said web being adapted to be releasably located underneath said inwardly turned portion at the outer end of the first member and said web reaching to said staff, the sides of the second member extending downwardly alongside the outer sides'of the sides of the first member, and means at a plurality of spaced apart points in the length of the stafi engageable by the lower member for holding the step in a selected position to which moved.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, said lower member of the step being formed of sheet metal and having a downwardly and inwardly inclined web and vertical spaced sides extending upwardly therefrom, said sides at their free ends and their upper portions having sections turned inwardly toward each other, said sections overlapping, and said web at its outer end being extended vertically and formed into a substantially cylindrical roll, the lower side of which is spaced a short distance above the upper edges of said sides of said lower member.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, said lower member of the step being formed of sheet metal into substantially channel form and having at its lower side an inclined web and spaced sides extending upwardly from the side edges thereof, said sides being of substantially triangular shape, and said web at its inner end being adapted to bear against the inner side of the stafi and at its outer end being continued vertically above the upper edges of said sides and formed into a substantially cylindrical roll located a short distance above the upper edges of said sides, said sides at their free wider ends each having an integral seotion turned inwardly toward the other side, said sections overlapping, and a pin passing through said overlapping sections, said staff having a plurality of vertically spaced openings at its outer side each adapted to receive said pin.

4. A stiltstep of sheet metal comprising a lower member having an upwardly and outwardly inclined web and vertical sides spaced from each other and extending upwardly from the longitudinal edges of said web, said web at its upper 4 end having an integral vertical extension, the upper end portion of which is formed into a roll located over the upper edges of said sides, said sides at their opposite ends having each a section narrower in width than the height of the sides bent at right angles to extend toward the opposite side, said sections overlapping, and a second member of sheet metal of substantially channel form having a horizontal web and trinagular downwardly extending spaced sides one at each of its longitudinal edges, said web at its outer end being adapted to be located underneath said roll and said sides located at the outer sides of the sides of the lower member, the length of said web being a predetermined distance less than the length of sides of the lower member to provide a space between said overlapping sections of the lower member and the opposite end of said horizontal web for the passage of a stilt staff between the sides of the lower member and between said overlapping sections and the adjacent end of said horizontal web.

5. A construction as defined in claim 4, said web of the second member at the last mentioned end thereof having an integral continuous downwardly and outwardly curved section located between the sides of the lower member when in connection therewith.

6. In a stilt, a vertical stilt staff, a step for said stafi comprising a lower member through which the staff passes at one end, said lower member extending to one side of the stafi, said lower member having spaced apart sides, and an upper member releasably interlocked with the lower member and embracing it, having a horiontal portion extending between the sides of the lower member and over the upper edges thereof and having downwardly extendin portions lying against the outer sides of the spaced sides of the lower member, combined with means for releasably holding the lower member in any of a plurality of vertical positions on said staff.

7. A stilt step comprising, a lower member having a web 3, sides 4, overlapping sections 5 at one end of the web, means 6 securing said overlapping extensions together, a vertical extension I to the web 3 at one end and a roll 8 formed at the upper end of the extension I and spaced a short distance from the upper edges of the sides 4, and a second member having a web 9 and downwardly turned spaced apart sides l0, one end of the web 9 being adapted to be inserted under the roll 8 with the sides 10 located outside of the sides 4 of the lower member.

CHARLES E. HIGGINS. 

